A ‘now hiring sign outside of a Les Schwab Tires location on Lancaster Drive on Friday, May 28. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
The median price of a house in Salem and Keizer continues to climb as fewer are sold. Despite the demand for housing, builders pulled fewer permits in May. The number of continuing claims for unemployment benefits in Marion and Polk counties ticked downward as employers are posting more help wanted ads.
Home sales (lots under a half acre) – Salem/Keizer
May 2021: 275
April 2021: 303
March 2021: 274
February 2021: 195
May 2020: 226
Median price:
May 2021: $385,000
April 2021: $365,000
March 2021: $375,000
February 2021: $355,080
May 2020: $317,250
Source: Willamette Valley Multiple Listing Service
Continuing claims for unemployment
Marion County
May 2021: 2,860
April 2021: 3,013
March 2021: 3,172
February 2021: 4,218
January 2021: 4,730
May 2020: 12,927
January 2020: 2,268
Polk County
May 2021: 650
April 2021: 693
March 2021: 751
February 2021: 931
January 2021: 1,034
May 2020: 2,719
January 2020: 502
Source: Oregon Employment Department
Salem area average hourly earning
May 2021: $25.11
April 2021: $24.30
March 2021: $24.07
February 2021: $24.34
May 2020: $23.81
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Salem area help wanted ads online (approximate)
May: 10,510
April: 9,750
March: 8,750
February: 7,890
Statewide area help wanted ads online
May: 112,400
April: 104,000
March: 91,800
February: 80,400
Source: The Conference Board via Oregon Employment Department
Video lottery sales
Marion County
May: $8.4 million
April: $9.4 million
March: $11.8 million
February: $5.8 million
January: $212,084 (lottery locations limited)
Polk County
May: $925,767
April: $1.1 million
March: $1.3 million
February: $606,615
January: $27,453 (lottery locations limited)
Source: Oregon Lottery
Salem new business registrations
May: 617
April: 758
March: 766
February: 614
January: 582
Source: Oregon Secretary of State
Salem building permits
New single-family dwellings
May: 20
Total value for May 2021: $5.8 million
April: 42
March: 68
February: 59
January: 25
May 2020: 30
Total value for May 2020: $7.1 million
New multi-family dwelling units
May: 3
Total value for May 2021: $574,489
April: 15
March: 6
February: 246
January: 0
May 2020: 8
Total value for May 2020: $951,667
New commercial/industrial permits
May: 8
Total value: $11.6 million
April: 7
Total value: $2.8 million
March: 7
Total value: $6.6 million
February: 13
Total value: $8.9 million
January: 7
Total value: $12.7 million
May 2020: 39
Total value: $8.8 million
Source: city of Salem
Contact reporter Jake Thomas at 503-575-1251 or [email protected] or @jakethomas2009.
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